Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-27
THE G., l.. Il w. RAILROAD.
A Talk with Genera Manager Townsen
About the Extension.

A Talk with General Manager Townsend
About the Extension.
Oscar Townsend, Esq, General Manager
Of the Cleveland, Lorain and Wheeling
railroad, is a large, fine-looking man,
probably past fifty years of age. His hair
and beard are of a sandy color, mixed
plentifully with gray, while hiseye retains
the brightness of youth and his frame its
wonted vigor.
A reporter met him on the Bellaire
and Martins Ferry accommodation, on the
new line, afew days ago, and found him
quite a pleasant and communicative man.
He said he was taking a ride over the new
road to see if their time tables, rate Of
travel and stopping places appeared to ac-
commOdate the popular want. He was
much pleased with the success they are
having, and stated that the branch was
going ahead of their expectations. He &C.
knOwledged that he had felt a little blue
at the start, when they had no outlet into
Bellaire and the travel did not pay for the
coal burned, but he thinks the branch is
now in a fair way, not only to get its share
of the business, but to make business for
itself which did not heretofore exist. He
feels very kindly toward the people in the
three towns of Martins Ferry, Bridgeport
and Bellaire, and especially so toward
Martins Ferry, where the City Council
acted very generously in the matter Of let
ting the road in over its best street. A
slight Earring sensation, which could be
felt while riding over the high piling nea
Bridgeport, it was claimed by Mr..
Townsend, would all cease in less than a
year, when the piles were all Settled"
and the roadway permanently adjusted
besides il is the intention of the company
to fill all along the line, and make q road
bed principally Of stone and clay earth,
doing away with the trestling entirely.
He averred that it seemed remarkable the
great amount Of filling which could be
done in a short time, and cited as IN ex-
ample the fact hat where the depot at
Bridgeport and the road for several hun
dred yards below had ali been built with
in q year. He stated that it was the in
tention to so regulate the trains that the
branch would accommodate the greatest
number of people, and that the best means
would be provided for workiDgmen to get
to and from their labors. As soon as the
road gets firmly established in Bellaire and
gets its connections made with the B. 90,
a traffic arrangement will be entered into
between the two roads, whereby the B.
& o. can make a direct rate from any point
into Bridgeport or Martins Ferry and
the c., L. & W. will shift their cars in
return for the privilege Of connecting
with the East and West. Possibly a
ticket traffic arrangement can be
made also, whereby the c., l.. < W. sta
lions will sell through tickets to all points
via. the B. & o., while the B. 81 will
have an almost direct route 10 Cleveland,
a city which 50 far has been barred. to that
road. The site for a very nice and con
venient passenger station has been secured
in Bellaire, located on the same street as
the C. & P. station. Very pretty little
boxes or waiting rooms, after the shape Of
of Chinese Pagoda and comfortably fitted
up will be built at street crossings and at
irregular stops along the way, making the
accommodation trains all that could be
desired in their line. On the whole the
Bsllaire and Martins Ferry branch viii
partake more of the metropolitan elevated
railway than any other similar enterprise
ever attempted in the country. Mr.
Townsend seems very hopeful for the
success of his road, and there is 10 reason
" hy it should not be, passing through the
rich country it does, and with the connec-
tons and arrangements it proposes to
make.